CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIVE SPIN
European Defence Improvement Programme, was adopted by the ten Eurogroup countries in 1970 (Cand. 4592) and was designed
to improve the effectiveness of national forces committed to
NATO and to accelerate certain common projects of major military significance. It is now approaching a successful conclusion. the communique following their December 1974 meeting, Eurogroup Defence Ministers were able to announce plans for the introduc- tion into service in 1975 of an impressive list of major new equipments.
In
16. The Defence Ministers of the ten European countries par- ticipating in the Eurogroup have continued to find it a valuable
forum in which they can discuss the major
defence issues facing the Alliance, and give
direction to the practical work of co-operation that is carried out in the various Eurogroup sub-groups.
То this end they commissioned and discussed a report on the future trends in European defence and reiterated their determin- ation that the Eurogroup should play the important part
in developing European defence capabilities
effectively
most
within the framework of the Alliance as a
whole. The Secretary of State for Defence has accepted the invitation of his Ministerial colleagues in the Eurogroup to act as their Chairman during 1975 and it will be the Government's
aim to carry this important work forward.
The Western European Union (WEU)
17. The WEU has continued to provide a means whereby parlia- mentarians from the seven member countries can meet to debate
II-8
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 60Page 61